Heater



June 11, 1946. E. B. BARNES HEAIER Filed May 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

June 11, 194 E. B. BARN-ES HEATER Fi'led May 25, 1942 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 M 33 l/d 95 1 Rs w y NH 6 E n Va r ma 8 A if m m E Y B Patented June 11, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATER,

Elias B. Barnes, Elkha'rt, Ind. Application May 25, 1942, Serial No. 444,369 7 4 Claims. 1

My invention pertains to an improved diffusing air heater and changer unit which is especially useful for heating and conditioning the air in small enclosures such as trailers, cabins and the like.

Air-conditioning, according to the Guide of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, has for its objective the control of temperature, purity, moisture and movement of air in a room,'to produce the desired efiects upon the occupants. The engineers society established the following requirements:

1. Air temperature, 63 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Air purity, resulting from an intake of 12 cubic feet of outdoor air per person each minute.

3. Air moisture, 30 to 70 per cent relative humidity.

4. Air movement, 15 to 25 linear feet per minute.

Itis just as important that we meet these four air requirements in a trailer as it is in any other occupied room. Damp, stagnant, stuffy air is just as deplorable inv a trailer as it is in any other dwelling. -Trailers are being emphasized for health and pleasure and are useful to workers in the national defense program. But it isimpossible to meet theseair requirements in trailers by the ,methods used in ordinary dwellings, because trailers are single rooms, small, narrow, obstructed, exposed, light in construction, entirely so different. The fact that they are so small makes it all the more urgent that we pay particular attention in winter to purity, moisture and the move ment of air.

To date, the prevalent trailer circulating heaters have met only one of these four air-conditioning requirements. They heat. They are called circulating heaters, but they provide no adequate air movement as shown by the fact that trailer floors are cold and ceilings hot.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an improved air diffusing heater unit which, while providing ample heat and air ex change for ventilation and humidity control, will also provide effective air movement and circulation for spreading the he 1; and providing maximum human comfort.

It is'also an object of my' invention to provide a simple rugged heater and ventilating unit which is safe, efi'icient and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope ofnny invention, such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction. and to combinations of parts, ele- 2 a ments per. se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification in conjunction with the drawings disclosing specific em: bodiments of my invention, similar reference characters being applied to, correspondingnele ments throughout, and in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my laterally diffusing air changer and heater Withthe top cover removed, the grill removed, and the door of the combustion chamber open; r

Fig. 2 is aplan thereof; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 in -Fig. 2; and I .Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view takenon line 4-4 in Fig. 2,v ,r V

Referring-more specificallyto Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that myimproved laterally difiusing air heater andchanger comprises an outer housing II enclosing a combustion chamber l3 ofa generallysimilar shape and smaller dimensions o that the wallsare spaced and parallel providing adequateair circulat ng space. The combustion chamber ispreferablvoi a rectangular shape in. all horizontal sections to provide ample heat radiating surfaces. v,Thetop walls. I3 a and I la respectively. of the combustion chamber I3, and the enclosing housing II slope upwardly from backtofront, and the outer housing is open at thefront, to facilitate the upward and forward movementof heated air tobe' prof jeoted out from the open front sideof the bollsing,-as may be seen in Fig, 4. The sidahac and top walls of the outer housing. II are of a double construction enclosing insulation spaces I2 whichare filled with any suitable insulation material I5, such as. rock wool, asbestos or the like. v ,7

As shown in Fig. 1, the front wall I! of the combustion chamber is provided with a large aperture I9 providing convenientaccess to any suitable fuel or oil burner mountedtherein. The aperture I9 is preferably circular and is closed by means of a disc 2| of sheet. metal ,pivotally secured on one side by a rivet 23.passing therethrough into the front wall of the combustion chamber. A closure limit and fastenerstop is provided comprising a screw .25, with abroad head and a flat-sided washer 2'! suitably positioned for limitin the closed position of the closure andalso receiving and holding it snugly against the front wall of the combustion chamber. ApIurality of such clamping limit stops are preferably provided near the lower edge of the opening'and these may be formed of a small metal disc 29 with the side climate.

remote from the door aperture front wall IT, as by spot welding, and the portion adjacent the aperture l9 being bent away from the wall to receive the lower edge of the pivoted closure 2| with a clamping action for securing the closure disc snugly. The free swinging side of the closure disc 2| is provided with a handle 3| which may consist of a strip of sheet metal spot welded thereto at one. end and having a grip bent out at the-other end. I

A sheet metal air inlet conduit 33 is provided in the space under the combustion chamber l3 and opening toward the open front side of the housing for drawing combustion air off of the floor to supply the burner 34 in the combustion chamber, in a manner to be more fully described. As may be seen in Fig. 4, a pipe connection or nipple 35 opens through of the top wall of the combustion chamber for discharging the products of combustion therefrom. The upper end, of the pipe nipple 35 is crimped to reduce the diameter. and provide for conveniently receiving and snugly fitting the lower end of any suitable stack pipe 3.! which may be inserted down thereonto, through a larger opening 39"provided in. the upper wall I la of the insulating outer housing, for discharging the products of combustion externally to the enclosure to be heated. From the larger opening in the upper wall of the housing, a short pipe 4| of larger diameter extends upwardly in spaced relation around the stack 31. Several apertures 43 are provided in the sides of the larger pipe 4|. to. permit air to circulate therethrough. A bafile plate 45 is provided attached to the upper wall |3a of the combustion chamber near the front, as by spot welding, andsloping down toward theback for causing the products of combustion to circulate around and transmit heat to the side walls before passing up the smoke. pipe. 31.

When oil is'the fuel to be burned, an, oil tank 41 is mounted on the rear end of the sloping top wall of the enclosing housing from whence an oil line. 49 extends down to the oil burner 34 through any suitable valve controlled. by a handle 53 through along rod 55. A screw cap 55 on the. top wall oi the tank provides convenient access. for filling with fueloil. As the oil tank is. substantially above the burner, the rateof fuel flow does not. vary substantially as the oil level varies from. full tank to empty tank level, and a fairly accurate calibration is obtained by noting the position. oithe valve for the desired heat capacity under various conditions of weather and Any suitable filter or sump (not shown) is; installed in the oil line. preferably between the tank and the valve. Vanes or fins 5'! se-. cured. firmly in close thermal contact on the side walls of the combustion chamber and projecting secured to the laterally and vertically guidev the rising air currents and improve heat transfer,

In accordance with my. invention, 1 provide a blower unit comprising an electric motor 58 and a siroccotype blower 59 mounted in the space above the insulated top wall of the outer housing. For silent operation, the blower 59 is suspended by flexible. cord or wire 6| around a diagonally disposed rod. 63 having one end secured by a screw 64 on the top flanged edge 66 of the front wall llb. and the other end secured by a screw on the top edge. of a side wall He. The motor endoil the blower unit may be also supported, as by a flexible or resilient member, a strip of rubscrews 11,

While the discharge nozzle diverges widelyv toward. the front of the unit and forms a horizontally elongated air discharge slot 19, as may be seen in Fig. 1, it converges vertically, as may the lower back portion be seen: in Fig. 4. The shape and position of the blower discharge nozzle II is such that it discharges a thin sheet of air directed forwardly and downwardly over the open front of the housing from whence the hot air is delivered; The intake port 8| of the blower casing 59 draws in warm air from the space above the housing and.

around the smoke stack 31. The large pipe 4| around the stack operates as a collector of residual heat and is preferably provided with. a large hole 83 adjacent the intake port of the blower for drawing a substantial portion of intake air from around thesmoke pipe 31 and thus utilizing a portion of the residualheat in the motor frame over and secured to the inturned the combustion gases which would otherwise be discharged outside and wasted.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom wall |3d of the combustion chamber l3 may be firmly secured to the bottom wall of the housing Id in spaced. relation thereabove, as by screws passing through tubular spacers 8'! of which there may be any desired member. The front end. of the floor air inlet conduit 33 has'a downturned lip 89 which engages, thev bottom wall ||d of the housing near the front edge. The sides and rear of the air conduit 33 close firmly againstfthe bottom side of the bottom wall |3d' of the com: bustion chamber to which attachment is made in any suitable. manner, as by. spot iwelding. The floor air inletv conduit 33 extends from the open front of the housing back'underthe combustion chamber I3 a. suitable distancefor conducting air oil of the floor of the room into an aperture 9| in the bottom wall of the combustion chamber through which it passes upwardly around the burner to support combustion in the combustion chamber. Any suitable burner may be utilized. As shown in Figs. 1, 3' and 4 the burner may be a pot type oil burner having a bowl shaped oil receptacle 93 with the lower end of the 0il li-ne 49 passing into the rear side. thereof and having an overflow pipe 95 connecting through the bottom of boththe receptacle and the air conduit 33 for disposal of any overflow, if on rare occasions some unburned oil might escape. Bracket arms Sl' of strap iron are secured, as by welding, between the bottom of the oil bowl 93' and the bottom side of the bottom wall |3d of the combustion chamber, for mounting the bowl in a concentric position in the air inlet aperture 91 so that air drawn off of the floor of the heated enclosure may rise freely on all sides. A perforated cylindrical sheet metalflame baflle 9 3, open at both ends, is fitted snugly down into the oil bowl. The'burner is a cylindrical sheet metal enclosure |il| open at the bottom end and fitting down on the floor l3d of the chamber the front side of the pins I01, and having a 'valve handle 53 is set at "to carry a larger portion of around the outside of a marginal flange I03 turned up around the inlet aperture 9|. The upper end of the enclosure member IUI is partially closed by a cast ring I05 secured thereto, as by cotter central aperture I09 through which the flame passes from the burner.

The side Walls of the outer enclosing housing purpose a bronze-baked has been found to be very pleasing and satisfactory. The combustion chamber and its closure member are preferably made of heavy blued stove metal.

The burner 34 having been ignited, and the closure 2I being closed, a front grill I25 is slipped edgewise into support guides I21. The blower is started and the oil control a proper position for the heat requirements to be satisfied.

The heat of combustion causes the hot com bustion gases to rise up the stack 3'! in a well known manner, as indicated by the'dotted line and arrows. Because of the bafiie 45 between the burner 34 and the exhaust pipe outlet nipple 35, the hot combustion gases are caused to swirl and eddy around in the combustion chamber I3 the heat to the walls of the combustion chamber. As the combustion gases rise up the exhaust stack 31, air is drawn oil of the floor I2I through the air inlet conduit 33 rising into the combustion chamber I3 around the burner, relieving the room of the cold foul passes around the outside chamber I3 and rises therearound, as shown by the arrows. The heated fresh air then enters the space provided between the sloping top walls I3a and Na of the combustion chamber and the insulated enclosing housing, These top walls slope upwardly from back to front so that the movement of the air is expedited as it rises therebetween, and it is projected laterally with sub is fitted down over the said housing,

6 stantial velocity out of the open front of the housing into the room.

The blower 59, suspended in the insulated tank compartment or space above the housing, draws in warm air from this space and from around the stack and projects the air as a thin sheet through the elongated slot 19 in the nozzle H at the front edge of the cover I I5 just above the nozzle, the blower projected sheet of air is directed forwardly and downwardly, as indicated by the arrows, to so direct the heated air which comes from around the combustion chamber, This spreads all of the incoming heated air wide andstrong along the floor, to warm the floor and the entire coach with a delightful air movement for maximum comfort. Because the blower intake air is drawn from the space above the housing and around the stack, the thermal 'efficiency of my laterally diffusing air heater and changer is also substantiall increased by this improved arrangement.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements ma be made other than herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A laterally diffusing air changer and heater comprising, Wall means forming a combustion chamber, a fuel burner mounted in said chamber, the bottom wall of the combustion chamber having an aperture therein for receiving combustion air, a stack connecting upwardly from said chamber, wall means forming an insulating housing enclosing the combustion chamber in spaced'rearound said stack, a blower mounted for drawthe heat collector above said collector being open to receive air at the top and the side having an aperture ing warmed air from communicating with the blower intake, a cover fitting on said housing and around said stack and collector for enclosing the space above the housing, air conduit means connecting from the ing the sheet of air to thereby deflect the heated air from around the combustion chamber laterally and downwardly.

2. An air heating ventilating and diflusing unit for small enclosures comprising, wall means housing for drawing air a a io 7 aperture, afioor air conduit connecting from-said floor air aperture and extending through the space-under the combustion chamber and opening adjacent the bottom of the unit toward the front side of the insulating housing for drawing air ofi of the iloor of an enclosure to be heated by the a fuel burner mounted in said combustion chamber, a stack connection opening from the combustion chamber through the top wall of said housing for discharging combustion products and drawing floor air into said chamher, 'a movable closureon said chamber to provide access to said burner, a ventilating aperture opening through the bottom of the enclosing housing under said combustion chamber to ad mit :fresh outside air received through a suitably apertured floor for rising around the hot combustion chamber in segregated relation from the foul floor air and discharging from the open side of the housing, means for defining an air space above the housing, a blower mounted with its intake in the space above the housing vfor drawing warmed air from the space above said housing, air conduitmeans connecting from the discharge side of said blower, said conduit means terminating in a nozzle of a slot-like shape elongated horizontally and positioned above the open "front of said housing :for projecting a sheet of-fiair and means :positioned above said nozzle and extending in an outward and downward direction for so directing the sheet of air as to deflect the heated air from around the combustion chamber laterally :and downwardly, while the draft. of "combustion :air :from a room into said floor .air conduit Jfurther aids in keeping the heated air down tnear'the floor of the room to be heate'd. I

13. In a laterally 'difiusin'g air changer and heater, wall means forming a'combustion chamber ofa rectangular shape in all horizontal crosssections, said'cembustion chamber having its top 'wall sloping upwardly from back to front, wall means forming an insulating housing of 'a similar shape but having larger dimensions than the chamber and disposed'in enclosing spaced relation around said chamber, said housing being open at the front "and the bottom wall of said housing havinga ventilating aperture for admitting fresh air to rise in the space around said chamber-for receiving heat and projecting from the open front side of the housing, a fuel burner mounted in said combustion chamber, the bottom wall of said combustion chamber having an air inlet aperture-a floor airinlet conduit connecting from said air inlet aperture through the space under a the combustion chamber and opening adjacent the bottom of the unit toward the front of the off of the floor of an enclosure to be heated, a stack connection opening from the top wall of the combustion chamber movably disposed enclosing housing, from the combustion chamber for discharging combustion products :therefrom, means defining an air space above said housing, a blower mounted with its intake communicating with said air space above ing warmed air from the space above said housing, air conduit means connectin from .thedischarge side of said blower, a nozzle connected to said air conduit means, said nozzle being suitably shaped and positioned above the open side of said housing for projecting a sheet of air, and deilector means positioned above said nozzle and extending outwardly and downwardly for so directing the sheet ofair as to deflect the heated air from around the combustion chamber laterally and downwardly.

4. An air heating and ventilating unit for small enclosures comprising, wall means forming a combustion chamber, the front wall of said chamber having an opening, a closuremember over bustion chamber, wall means forming an insulating housing enclosing said combustion chamber in spaced relation and being open on the front side, means mounting the combustion chamber in-spaced relation above the bottom wall of=the a stack connection opening through the top wall of the housing, the bottom wall of the combustion chamber having an air admitting aperture, a fuel burner mounted in said combustion chamber ior exposure in the .air stream flowing through the air admitting eapertu-re, a floor ai-r conduit connecting from-saidair admitting aperture in the bottom of the combustion chamber and openingadj acent the bottom of the unit and to the front of said housing to draw air off of the floor of an enclosure to be heated by the unit,

a ventilating aperture opening through the :bottom of the enclosing housing -to admit fresh outside air throughasuitably apertured floor for risingaround the hot combustion chamberin segregated relation fromthe floor-air and dischar ing from the open side 'of the enclosing housing while floor air is drawn through the combustion chamber, means defining an air space above said combustion chamber, a residual hea-t collector around said stack, said collector having aside aperture in said space and a top opening above the unit, a blower mounted in said space having itsintake communicating with the side aperture of saidcollector for. drawing warmedair from the heat collector, ,a nozzle of a slot-like shape elongated horizontally and positioned above the open side of said housing, conduit means connecting the blower to the nozzle for projecting a sheet of air, and-means above the nozzle and extending outwardly and downwardly for directing the projected air sheet so as to deflect the heated air laterallyv and downwardly.

,ELrAs B; BARNEs.

the housing for drawv the opening in the com- 

